Apparatus for knitting striped fabric



April 17, 1951 s. MISHCON ETAL APPARATUS FOR KNITTING STRIPED FABRIC 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1949 ili n Y ONNK E TO E N N n R E O I MMT A LH h R am MLH FIG.

s. MISHCON ET AL 2,549,701

APPARATUS FOR KNITTING STRIPED FABRIC April 17, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 15, 1949 INVENTORS SAMUEL MISHCON LESTER MISHCON HARRYAGULNEK BY WW ATTORNEY April 17, 1951 s. MISHCON ETAL 2,549,701

APPARATUS FOR KNITTING STRIPED FABRIC Filed April 15, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS SAMUEL MISHCON LESTER MISHCON HARRY AGULNEKATTORN EY April 1951 s. MISHCON ETAL 2,549,701

APPARATUS FOR KNITTING STRIPED FABRIC Filed April 15, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS SAMUEL MISHCON LESTER MISHCON HARRY AGULNEKATTOR N EY April 17, 1951 s. MISHCON ETAL 2,549,701

APPARATUS FOR KNITTING STRIPED FABRIC Filed April 15, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 5 f, 67a 7001 H8 //0 FIG. 24.

FIG. 2/. 3

FIG. 235.

' INVENTOR SAMUEL MISHGON LESTER MISH CON HARRY AGULNEK ATTORNEYPatented Apr. 17, 1951' APPARATUS FOR KNITTING STRIPED FABRIC SamuelMishcon, Queens, Harry Agulnek, Brooklyn, and Lester Mishcon, Queens, N.Y., assignors to Supreme Knitting Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application April 15, 1949, Serial No. 87,634

30 Claims.

. 1 This invention relates to knitting machinesmore particularly to ayarn cutting and clamping device in association with striping apparatus,

In the process of producing striped fabric, particularly on circularknitting machines, a necessary step is the cutting of the knitting yarnafter the change-over to another yarn. And it is also equally necessaryto hold the non-knitting yarns in such manner that they may be readilybrought into knitting position by the selective striping box mechanism.Various expedients have been employed to mechanically perform thesesteps; but it has been found that such expedients are generallycomplicated and involve considerable expense and inconvenience.

It is especially a serious problem to efiect the aforesaid cutting andclamping steps in circular knitting machines where the rotating memberis the cylinder. This type of machine is frequently preferred to thestationary cylinder type, since it eliminates the known disadvantagesinherent in rotating yarn stands, the relatively high peripheral speedsof which produce uneven feeding. Such a machine, embodying a novel formof striping apparatus, is described in our patent application, filedJune 26, 1948, Serial No. 35,376, now Patent No. 2,543,121. In thisapparatus, we employ plurality of four-finger striping boxes, andcertain novel actuating means therefor described in said application;and the arrangement is such that the inoperative yarn from the raisedfinger is Wrapped around a central post-so that it becomes necessaryperiodically to remove the accumulations of wrapped-around yarn. It hasbeen found that this may involve, under certain conditions, considerableloss of time and waste of material. And in the same type of machine, wehave employed an arrangement of several cutting blades so disposedwithin the interior of the cylinder as to sever yarn operatively broughtinto their path. This arrangement has also been found, under certainconditions, to entail certain difficulties and uncertainty in thecutting of the yarn. It is accordingly within the contemplation of ourinvention to provide an apparatus, in conjunction with a striping deviceparticularly although not necessarily like that shown in our saidprevious application, which will avoid the aforesaid shortcomings, yetwhich will effectively and conveniently hold the non-knitting yarn, andautomatically cut the yarn the knitting of which has been discontinued.

More specifically, it is an object of our invention to provide a cuttingand clamping device for striping mechanisms which will be adapted for 2positioning inside of the cylinder with respect to the needles, whichcan readily be connected to a multiple feed striping box, and which willbe periodically operated by mechanism on the machine.

A further object is to provide a device of the said character capable ofsecurely yet releasably holding in engagement a plurality ofnon-knitting strands of yarn of various sizes. And in this aspect of ourinvention, it is a further object to enable this function to beperformed while one strand of yarn is in operative knitting position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a push member adaptedto cooperate with a clamping member, whereby a yarn which has just beenreleased from its knitting position will be brought within the clampingmember Without releasing the other strands being operatively held inplace. And in this aspect of our invention, it is another object toenable the terminal of a selected non-knitting yarn to be operativelywithdrawn from the clamping member to a knitting position.

It is still a further object of our invention to provide a retractablepush member which upon retraction will not interfere with the clampingmember nor with its strand holding function.

Still another object is to provide an adjustable clamping member whichwill not only be capable of simultaneously holding a plurality ofstrands, but which will automatically adjust itself during itsengagement with the push member for maintaining its frictional grip uponthe strands held therein.

And it is within the contemplation of our invention to enable theabove-mentioned functions to be attained by a relatively simple andreadily installed device.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings andthe description hereinafter iven.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a revolving cylinder knittingmachine, showing a plan view of a striping box and a preferred form ofyarn cutter and clamp in accordance with our inventionthe pusher (only afragment of which is shown) and its associated parts being shown inprojected position.

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 taken substantially along line 2-2,and showing a side elevation of the striping box with a fragment removedfor clarity, and the yarn cutter and clamp of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the yarn pusher and a fragment of itsactuator.

Figure 4 is a front view, taken from the inside of the cylinder, of thestriping box and associated parts of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the apparatus of Figure 4, showing also thereciprocating pawl for operating the striper drum.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the yarn clamp member, showing aportion of the yarn cutting blade.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear view of the two elements of the clampingmember of Figure 6, showing such elements in pivotally displacedpositions.

Figure 8 is a plan view substantially like Figure 1, but showing thepusher and associated parts in their operatively retracted position.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of Figure 8'.

Figure 10 is a rear view'of a portion of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the pusher actuator and its cam.

Figure 12 is a section taken substantially along line 82-42 of Figure 9,showing the relative positions of the clamping member, the cuttingknife, the retracted pusher, the yarn finger after it has been raisedfrom its knitting position, three yarns held by the clamp, and the yarnextending from the finger to the fabric.

Figure 13 is a side view of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view like Figure 12, showing the pusher moving forwardlyagainst the yarn, the three previously clamped yarns being omitted.

Figure 15 is a side View of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a view like Figure 14, showing the pusher forcing the yarnbetween the two elements of the clamping member, and also show ing saidyarn being severed.

Figure 17 is a side view of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a view substantially like Figure 17, but showing the pusherin its foremost position with the terminal portion of the yarnoperatively engaged by the clamp.

Figur 19 is a view substantially like Figure 18, but showing the pusherbeing operatively retracted and riding over the clamping member.

Figure 20 is a section substantially like that of Figure 12, but takenalong line 23-40 of Figure 21, and showing a modification of ourinvention containing an auxiliary yarn engaging arm, the pusher memberand associated parts being in their fully retracted position.

Figure 21 is a side view of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a rear view of the pusher member and associated auxiliaryarm of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a view substantially like Figure 20, the section beingtaken along line 23 of Figure 24, but showing the pusher member andauxiliary arm in engagement with the ya-rnthe said pusher member and armbeing in the same relative position as shown in Figures 20 and 21.

Figure 24 is a side view of Figure 23.

Figure 25 is a View substantially like Figure 23, except that the pushermember is shown in a more forwardly position, whereby its relativeposition with respect to the auxiliary arm has been changed, this figurebeing a cross section along line 25 of Figure 26.

Figure 26 is a side view of Figure 25, and

Figure 27 is a perspective view of the pusher member and an auxiliaryarm shown in Figures 20 to 26.

The apparatus illustrated, for purposes of example only, is the knittingmachine and striping apparatus of our invention described in our saidpatent application, Serial No. 35,376. The machine contains a stationarystriping box carrier ring 20, and stationary sinker cam ring 2|, arevolvable sinker dial 22, a revolvable cylinder 23, a plurality ofreciprocating knitting needles 24, and radially movable sinkers 25, allin accordance with conventional structure. Mounted on stationary ring 20are a plurality of stationary striping boxes 25, each containing fourfingers or yarn carriers 21, 28, 29 and 3Bsaid fingers being ofconventional construction and containing apertures through which extendyarns 3!, 32, 33, and 34 from cones on a stationary yarn stand. The yarnstand, knitting machine actuating mechanism, and the striping boxesother than the one illustrated, are omitted, since they are: well-knownto those skilled in the art our said prior application describingcertain of said parts in greater detail. Disposed below each saidstriping fingers is a needle latch guard 35 containing a yarn ledge 36,the wall 31 of the guard being engageable with the latch 38 of theneedle (Figures 2 and 4).

The striping fingers are pivotally mounted and are each movable betweenan upper inoperative position and a lower operative or knittingposition. In Figures 1 and 2, fingers 21, 28 and 30' are shown in anupper inoperative position and finger 29 in a lower operative position.When a selected finger is in its lower operative position, the yarncarried thereby, such as yarn 33-, is disposed over and rests upon ledge36' and is operatively engageable with the needle 24, whereby said yarnis knitted into the fabric. The three strands, 3|, 32 and 34 (in theirpositions shown in Figures 1 and 2), extend into and are held betweenthe elements 39 and 40 of the clamping member or clamp M, to behereinafter more fully described.

It is apparent that the movement of the striping fingers from theirinoperative to their operative positions will determine which stripingyarns are being incorporated in the fabric. Since the fingers may carrydifferently colored yarns, various fabric colors or striping effects canobviously be obtained by selectively operating one of the stripingfingers of each of the striping boxes positioned about the machine.

The operating mechanism with" the striping box is not, per se, theessence of this inventionalthough in the preferred form thereofillustrated, the operative movement of the striping box causes certainoperative movements of the pusher and clamping members with which thisinvention is primarily concerned. The form of striping box hereillustrated is similar to that shown in our pending applicationabove-mentioned', and will not be described in all its details herein.Suffice it to say, for the purpose of this specification, that eachstriping box contains an inner rotating drum 42 mounted on shaft 43(Figures 2, 5 and 9) operatively connected to a ratchet wheel 45, theteeth of which are in engagement with the pawl 45-said pawl beingreciprocatingly actuated in accordance with a selective setting of acontrol mechanismwhich need not here be described, but which is clearlydescribed in our said prior application, Serial No. 35,376. Each of thedrums 42 contains on the cylindrical surface thereof a plurality ofholes (not shown),

5. the corresponding fingers. More specifically, each of the fingers ispivotally mounted at 41, the undersurface of the rear arm 48 beingadapted for slideable engagement with the tops of the underlying pins 46or the drum surface. Each finger has associated therewith a spring 49normally urging the finger upwardly into its inoperative position, inobvious manner. Thus, when the rear arm of a finger is not in engagementwith a-pin, it will rest upon the lateral cylindrical surface of thedrum. However, as the drum moves in the direction of the arrow (Figure2), the underlying pin 46a will cause an elevation of the rear arm ofthe overlying finger and a consequent depression of the forward part ofthe finger, whereby the finger is brought into its operative position,as indicated by finger 29 in Figures 1 and 2.

The said clamping member 4| consists of the two coacting elements 39 and40, as aforesaid, the former being bifurcated and pivotally mounted onstem 50, the pivotal point. being said stem being affixed to frame 52forming part of the bracket 53 fixedly attached to the lateral wall 54of the drum housing 26 (Figures 2, 6 and 9). Element 39 contains a flatsurface 55 engageable with cylindrical surface 56 of element 40thelatter being suspended from the stem 51 fixedly secured to sleeve 58rotatably carried by bearing 59. Slidably disposed within frame 52 isthe pin 68 urged outwardly by internal spring 6|, so that the said pinis in yieldable engagement with the upper part of stem 51, wherebyelement 40 is maintained in pressing engagement with element 39 of theclampingmember 4|. Secured to stem 51 is the blade holder 62 to which issecured the blade 63. In the preferred form illustrated, holder 62 has afiat surface 64 in the same plane as the fiat surface 65 of element 48,so that said blade is engageable with both of said surfaces, as clearlyshown in Figures '7, 12 and 13. The rear part of pivotally mountedelement 39 contains a rearwardly extending bar 66, to limit the upwardmovement of the cut yarn, as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

An important element of this invention is the push member 61 which ispreferably of bell-crank form and contains a substantially horizontallydisposed arm 68 to the terminal of which is pivotally mounted, at 69,the pusher blade 18 containing a downwardly extending arm II with aforward and substantially vertical pusher edge 12, the spring 13 mountedon the bell-crank arm I4 urging the blade 1|) downwardly to asubstantially vertical position determined by the stop 15. Arm I4 ispivotally mounted at 16 to the bracket 53, and is engageable with thestop 11 which limits the rearward movement of said arm 14 andconsequently of the pushing blade attached thereto. The rear of arm 68of the push member 6'! is pivotally connected at 18 to the pusheractuator 19 containing a lateral extension 80, the under-surface ofwhich contains a forwardly and upwardly extending inclined cam surface8| and a rear stop surface 82. Said stop surface is engageable with thepin 83 (see Figures 1 and 2) attached to the control arm 84 pivotallymounted at 85 and yieldably urged upwardly by the spring 86 anchored tothe wall 54 of the drum housing 26.

The forward part of said arm 84 contains an upwardly extending finger 81containing an inclined wall 88 slideably engageable with the pins 89extending outwardly from the outer control knob 01' cylinder 98. Thereare as many pins 89 as there are horizontal rows of holes on the drum42, as shown on our co-pending application. The said finger 81 ispreferably triangularlytipped and proportioned for entry into the spacesbetween adjacent pins 89, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The rear of actuator bar 19 is connected at 9| to the terminal 92 oflink 93, the opposite end 94 of said link being keyed on to shaft 95 theopposite terminal of which carries the follower arm 96. 96 at 99, andyieldably urges it forwardly towards the center of the cylinder. Thus,normally said link 96 is in its foremost position shown in Figure 8, theterminal I89 of said arm being in engagement with the vertical wall ID!of the sinker dial 22. In this normal position, the link 93 is urgedrearwardly in clockwise rotation, thereby carrying with it the actuatorarm 19 and the push member 61 to the normal retracted position a shownin Figures 8, 9 and 12.

In the operation of this device, the position of the parts as shown inFigures 1 and 2 will first be considered. Here the fingers 21, 28 and 38are, as aforesaid, in their raised positions so that their respectiveyarn 3|, 32 and 34 are in nonknitting position. These yarns are shownheld clamped between elements 39 and 40 of clamping member 4|, theterminals being shown extending forwardly therefrom. The finger 29 is inits lower or knitting position, so that its yarn 33 rests upon ledge 36(Figure 4) and is engageable with the needle 24 (Figure 2).

The push member 61 is in its forwardposition, as aforesaid, and the pin83 is at the rear of stop surface 82 of actuator bar 19, thereby holdingsaid actuator bar against rearward retraction; and in this position thefinger 81 of control arm 84 is disposed between the two lowermost pins89a and 89b on cylinder 99 (Fig. 2)

At a predetermined time, in accordance with the machines controlmechanism which ha not herein been described but which may be like thatshown in our said co-pending. application, the pawl 45 is actuatedupwardly (Figure 5) thereby causing an operative rotation of the drum 42to which the outer cylinder 98 is operatively attached. As the cylinder90 rotates in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2'), pin 8% will engagethe surface 88 of finger 8'! and urge the arm 84 downwardly against theaction of spring 86, to the position shown in Figure 9the arm 84pivotally moving downwardly to lower pin 83 out of the path of actuatorbar 19. Said bar will, therefore, under the urging of spring 91, move toits said rearmost retracted position, bar 19 sliding over said pin83-the rearmost position being shown in Figures 8 and 9.

The rotation of the drum 42 has now caused finger 29 to be raised (by anunderlying stud, in the manner described), and finger 34 to be lowered(by the removal of the underlying stud). By referring to Figures 8 and9, it will be seen that yarn 33 is still attached to fabric |03, but nowat a higher level, wherea the yarn 34 has now been lowered to theknitting position where it will be engaged by the needle 24the terminalof said yarn 34 still being held within clamping member 4|.

The machine is so timed that at this point,

the cam I94 attached to the under side'of the sinker dial 22 is broughtinto engagement with Spring 91 anchored at 98 engage arm ,7. face 8! ofactuator I9 riding over the .pin. 83. The action of this push member andassociated parts will now be described by referrin to Figures 12 to 19.

Finger 29', shown in Figure 12, has now been raised, and its yarn 33 isdirectly in the path of the pusher blade 72. As the push member 61 movesforwardly, it will engage the yarn 33 (Figures 14- and 15); and asmember 51 continues its forward motion, it will enter between theelements 39 and 46 of the clamping member 4i, carrying therewith a loopof the yarn 33. At the same time, the part of yarn 33 extending to thefabric I03 is engaged by the blade 63, and is severed thereby, as shownin Figure 16. This severing action is enhanced by the rotationalmovement of fabric I63. As the push member 6! continues its forwardmovement, it will reach its final projected position shown in Figure 18,

at which point the severed terminal portion of yarn 33 will be heldbetween the clamping elements of clamp 4|. Since the movement of pusherblade I2 has been forwardly, its has not in any way affected theposition of the other yarn strands held between the clamp.

It will be noted (Figure 19) that upon the return movement of pushmember 6-! (after cam I04 has moved out of engagement with follower arm95), the push blade I2 is pivotally actuated upwardly in clockwisedirection, the rear edge I05 of the blade engaging the top of theclamping member 4! and riding rearwardly thereover. This action isrendered possible by virtue of the fact that the pressure between thetwo elements 39 and 40 of clamp 4| is suificiently great to prevent anentry of blade I2 between the two elements. It is thus apparent that thereturn or retracting movement of the push member will in no way affectthe yarns held within the clamp, whereas the blade would carry the yarnswith it and out of the clamp, if it were compelled to move between theelements 39 and 48 upon its retraction.

It will further be observed, by referring to Figure 7, that when thepivotally mounted element 40 of the clamping member 4! is movedlaterally, under the influence of the pusher blade, it is stillmaintained in pressing engagement against element 39, since said elementis pivotally mounted at 5|. Thus, there is always the equivalent of linecontact between the cylindrical surface of element 40, the yarns engagedthereby and the flat surface 55 of element 39 to eifectively hold theengaged yarn therebetween, even upon a displacement of element to of theclamp.

As the cylinder continues to rotate, the new yarn which is now beingknitted, to wit, yarn 34 (due to the lowering of its finger 3.8), willbe pulled outwardly from between the clamping elements 39 and ti? of theclamp 61. During this process, there is also a possibility that thefilaments of the yarn will be fractured by the blade I33 as the yarnrubs thereagainst.

It will be noted that yarn 33 underlies the bar 66, which serves thepurpose of preventing said yarn from rising to too high a level afterits finger has been elevated and it is being subjected to the cuttingand clamping operations.

In the modification of our invention illustrated in Figures to 27, thepusher member 61a has pivotally mounted at the lateral side I8! thereofthe auxiliary arm I33 containing an off set portion I09 to the endportion of which is a pivotally mounted terminal I III. Secured to therear'of'pusher member 610. is the spring III, at'-'' tached at H2 andcontaining a portion H3 engageable with the rear of arm I08, whereby thesaid arm is yieldably urged forwardly to a forward limiting positionalongside of the pusher blade 10a. The said limiting position of the armis determined by the stop H4 extending laterally from pusher member 61aand engageablewith the finger I [5 of the said auxiliary arm I08. Thesaid terminal III] contains a recessed portion I I6 into whichv extendsthe stop H! extending laterally from portion I09, said stop serving tolimit the pivotal movement of terminal II 0 in obvious manner.

In the operation of this modified form of our invention, the saidauxiliary arm Hi9 moves forwardly with the operative'forward movement ofthe pusher member 61a in the manner herein-above-described. During thismotion, the forward edge II 8 of terminal II!) engages the yarn 33aextending from a just raised striping finger to the fabric, in anoperation similar to that shown in Figures 12 and 13. During thecontinued forward motion of the pusher member and auxiliary arm, theterminal Ill] adjustably engages the element 39a of the releasable yarnclamp (similar to the yarn clamp hereinabove-described) at the recessedportion I [9 thereof. In this position, the yarn 33a is now firmly heldby terminal II!) in pressing engagement with the said clamp element 39a,the yarn being embedded within recess '9 as a result of the pressureexerted by spring II I. The continued operative forward movement ofpusher member 61a is not interfered with by this operation, since suchforward movement will merel result in a relative pivotal movement ofauxiliary arm Ills against the action of spring III.

It is thus obvious that the yarn 33a will be firmly and frictionallyheld against movement or displacement when the terminal H8 is inpressing engagement with said yarn and element 39a. It has been foundthat this arrangement assures a cutting of yarn 33a by blade 63a,without any slippage thereover. In other words, even if the blade shouldbecome somewhat dulled because of long use, it will still be effectivein cutting the yarn 33a. when it is held in tensioned' positionthereover, since the yarn will not slip along the edge of the blade.

It is also apparent that the arrangement of the modified formabove-described does not in any way interfere either with the forward orretractive operative movements of pusher member 61a. The forwardmovement of the pusher member continues without interruption because ofthe pivotal mounting of the auxiliary arm; and the return movement ofthe pusher member will merely cause. the auxiliary arm to be carriedrearwardly thereby.-

It is thus apparent that by means of the novel pusher and clampingelements above-described, in combination with their associated parts,yarn can be operatively brought in and out of their knitting positions,and cut and clamped for best operative results with a minimum of effortand with no waste whatsoever.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosedmerely by wayof example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations andmodifications may be made therein which will still be comprised withinits spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is notlimited to any specific form or manner of pracon its operativeretraction.

ticing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in theappended claims.

We claim: 1. In a knitting machine of the type containing a stripingyarn feeding unit for moving sefrom said unit at the said knittingposition,

whereby the pusher-member will during its forward movement engage andcarry forwardly a yarn in its said path, said pusher member beingengageable with the clamp between the separable elements thereof,whereby the yarn carried by said member will be brought into operativeengagement with the clamp. d 2. In a knitting machine of the typecontaining a striping yarn feeding unit for moving selected yarnsbetween a non-knitting and a knitting position,- the combination of areleasable yarn clamp comprising two separable elements "i0 unit'to aprojected limiting position forwardly thereof, the operative path of themember from said retracted to said projected position beingsubstantially at said lower knitting position and intersecting the pathof knitting yarn extending from said unit, whereby the pusher memberwill during its forward movement engage and carry forwardly a yarn inits said path, said pusher member being engageable with the clampbetween the separable elements thereof, whereby the yarn carried by saidmember will be brought into operative engagement with the clamp.

-5. In a circular knitting machine of the type containing a needlecylinder and a striping yarn feeding unit for moving selected yarnsbetween a non-knitting and a knitting position, the combina'tion of areleasable yarn clamp for holding the yarns operatively extending fromsaid feeding unit, said clamp being disposed inwardly with respect tothe periphery of the cylinder,-a pusher member movable betweenretracted'and projected limiting positions, the operative path inyieldable pressing engagement for releasably member being movablebetween said elements,

whereby the yarn carried by said member will be brought between saidelements for frictional engagement thereby.

3. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination of a releasable yarn clamp comprising twoseparable elements in 'yieldable pressing engagement for releasablyholding therebetween the yarns operatively, ex tending from said feedingunit, a pusher member movable between retracted and projected limitingpositions, the operative path of the member between said positionsintersecting the path of yarn extending from said unit at the saidknitting position, whereby the pusher member will during its forwardmovement engage and carry forwardly a yarn in its said path, said pushermember being movable between and forwardly beyond said elements, wherebythe yarn carried by said member will be brought between said elementsfor frictional engagement thereby, the

' retracting path of said pusher member towards its said retractedlimiting position being in nonintersecting relation to the contactingportions of said separable elements, whereby said elements will not beseparated by the pusher member upbehind the said yarns extending fromthe feeding of the member between said positions intersecting the pathof yarn extending from said unit at the said knitting position, wherebythe pusher member will during its forward movement engage and carryforwardly a yarn in its said path, said pusher member being engageable'with'the clamp, whereby the yarn carried by said member will be broughtinto operative engagement with the clamp; further provided with acutting blade disposed above the cylinder and adjacent to the yarnclamp,the blade being positioned inthe path of the said last mentioned yarnoperatively extending from the clamp to the fabric being knitted. I r

6. In a circular knitting machine of the type containing a needlecylinder and a stripin yarn feeding unit for moving selectedyarns'between a non-knitting and a knitting position, the combination ofa releasable yarn clamp for holding the yarns operatively extending fromsaid feeding unit, said clamp being d sposed inwardly with respect tothe periphery of the cylinder, a pusher member movable between retractedand projected limiting positions, the operative path of the memberbetween said positions intersecting the path of yarn extending from saidunit at the said knitting position, whereby the pusher member willduring its forward movement engage and Y carry forwardly a yarn in itssaid path, said pusher member being engageable with the clamp, wherebythe yarn carried by said member will be brought into operativeengagement with the clamp; and cam means operatively associated with themachine and connected with said pusher member, for actuating said memberduring the operative rotation of the machine.

7. In a circular knitting machine of the type containing a rotary pindrum multiple feed striping unit intermittently operated by selectiveactuating means, the combination of a" releasable yarn clamp for holdingthe yarns 'operati'vely'extending from said feeding unit, a'pushermember movable between retracted and projected limiting positions, theoperative path of the member between said positions intersecting thepath of yarn extending from said unit at the said knitting position,whereby the pusher member will during its forward movement engage andcarry forwardly a yarn in its said path, said pushed member beingengageable with the clamp,

whereby the yarn carried by said member will be brought into operativeengagement with the clamp; and retractable stop means for holding saidpusher member against retraction from its said projected limitingposition, said stop means being coactively connected to and actuated bythe said rotary pin drum of the machine.

8. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim '7, further provided witha, cylinder connected to the rotary pin drum of the machine androtatable therewith, a plurality of pins circumferentially disposedabout the cylinder, the said retractable stop means comprising a springloaded pivotally mounted control arm having a finger with an inclinedsurface engageable with successive pins on the cylinder, said controlarm being yieldably urged towards the cylinder whereby said finger willextend between adjacent pins and whereby an operative rotation of thecylinder will cause the arm to be retracted by the engagement of saidinclined surface with the operatively adjacent pin; said control armhaving a laterally extending pin positioned for holding the pushermember against retraction when the control arm is in any position otherthan its said retracted position.

9. In a circular knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarnfeeding unit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and aknitting position, the combination of a releasable yarn clamp forholding the yarns operative1y extending from said feeding unit, a pushermember movable between retracted and projected limiting positions, theoperative path of the member between said positions intersecting thepath of yarn extending from said unit at the said knitting position,whereby the pusher member will during its forward movement engage andcarry forwardly a yarn in its said path, said pusher member beingengageable with the clamp, whereby the yarn carried by said member willbe brought into operative engagement with the clamp; a rotating cam; anda follower arm engageable by said cam and operative1y connected to saidpusher member.

10. In a, knitting machine, th combination according to claim 9, furtherprovided with a rotatable sinker dial, said cam being mounted on said.dial.

11. In a knitting machine, the combination according to claim 9, thepusher member being normally yieldably urged into its said retractedposition.

12 In a knitting machine .of the type contain ing a striping yarnfeeding unit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and aknitting position, the combination of a releasable yarn clamp withseparable elements for holding the yarns operative1y extending from saidfeeding unit, a pusher member movable between retracted and projectedlimiting posins, h p r tive, path of the m mber betw en said positionsintersecting the path of yarn extending from said unit at the saidknitting position, whereby the pusher member will during its forwardmovement engage and carry forwardly a yarn in its said path, said pushermember being engageable with the clamp between the separable elementsthereof, whereby the yarn carried by said member will be brought intooperative engagement with the clamp, further provided with an actuatorbar pivotally connected to a rear portion of the pusher member, arotatable member on the machine, and a link operative1y con- 12 nectingsaid rotatable member and said actuator bar.

13. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination of a releasable yarn clamp with separableelements for holding the yarns operative1y extending from said feedingunit, a pusher member movable between retracted and projected limitingpositions, the operative path of the member between said positionsintersecting the path of yarn extending from said unit at the saidknittin position, whereby the pusher member will during its forwardmovement engage and carry forwardly a yarn in its said path, said pushermember being engageable with the clamp between the separable elementsthereof, whereby the yarn carried by said member will be brought intooperative engagement with the clamp, further provided with an actuatorbar pivotally connected to a rear portion of the pusher member, aforwardly and upwardly extending inclined cam surface on the actuatorbar, a rear stop surface on said bar, and retractable stop means forholding said pusher member against retraction from its said projectedlimiting position, said stop means comprising a pivotally mountedcontrol arm having a laterally extending pin in the path of said stopsurface and engageable therewith when the arm is in a predeterminedprojected position, and engageable with said inclined cam surface whenthe arm is in its operative retracted position, whereby the actuator barand associated pusher member will be free for forward movement.

14. In a knittin machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim 2, one of said elementsbeing rotatable about an axis extending substantially horizontallythrough the body thereof, the other of said elements being movable fromthe first-mentioned of said elements in a direction substantially normalto the said axis.

15. In a, knitting machine of the type con taining a striping yarnfeeding unit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and aknitting position, the combination according to claim 2, one of saidelements being cylindrical and the other having a substantially flatsurface in engagement with the cylindrical surface of the other.

16. A clamping member for releasably holding knitting and non-knittingyarns extending from a striping yarn feeding unit, comprising twoseparable elements in yieldable pressing engagement, a stationary stemon which one of said elements is mounted, and a rotatably mounted stemon which the other of said elements is mounted, one of said elementsbeing pivotally supported about an axis extending through the bodythereof and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of saidrotatably mounted stem.

17. A clamping member according to claim 16, the pivotally supportedelement being mounted on the stationary stem.

18. A clamping member according to claim 1'7, one of said elements beingcylindrical and the other having a substantially flat surface inengagement with the cylindrical surface of the other.

19. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to :claim 2, further provided with abar attached to between said positions intersecting the path of yarnextending from said unit at the said knitting position, whereby thepusher member will during its forward movement engage and carryforwardly a yarn in its said path, said pusher member being yieldablyengageable with the clamp, whereby the yarn carried by said member willbe brought into operative engagement with the clamp; further providedwith a cutting blade positioned in the path of the said knitting yarnoperatively extending from the clamp to the fabric being knitted, saidcuttin blade being in engagement with said clamp.

21. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim 1, the pusher member beingpivotally mounted and having at the forward portion thereof a pusherblade.

22. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving 1 selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim 2, the pusher member beingpivotally mounted and having at the forward portion thereof a pusherblade, further provided with a stop member engageable with the pushermember to limit its rearward movement to said retracted position.

23. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination of a releasable yarn clamp with separableelementsfor holding the yarns operatively extending from said feedingunit, a pusher member movable between retracted and projected limitingpositions, the operative path of the member between said positionsintersecting the path of yarn extending from said unit at the saidknitting position,

whereby the pusher member will during its forward movement engage andcarry forwardly a yarn in its said path, said pusher member beingengageable with the clamp between the separable elements thereof,whereby the yarn carried by said member will be brought into operativeengagement with the clamp, the pusher member being pivotally mounted andhaving at the forward portion thereof a pusher blade, the pusher memberbeing of bell-crank configuration pivotally mounted at one end andhaving at the other end the pusher blade,- further provided with anactuator bar pivotally attached to the rear portion of the pushermember, a rotatable member on the machine, and a, link operativelyconnecting said rotatable member and said actuator bar.

24. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and knittingposition, the combination according to claim operative position to aninoperative position at an angle to the said operative position, saidblade being engageable with the said yarn in the pusher members pathduring the pusher *members said forward movement, said blade beingmovable between and past said two elements of the clamp during saidforward movement, when the blade is in its said operative position, andbeing slidably movable over said two elements in its said inoperativeposition during the pusher members retractive movement.

25. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim 24,the blade being normallyyieldably held in its said operativeposition.

26. In a pusher member for pushing yarn into a yarn holder of the classdescribed, a supporting arm, a pusher blade having a blade arm and beingpivotally mounted on the forward portion of said supporting arm andbeing movable between two limiting positions in one of which the bladearm is substantially vertical, stop means for limiting the movement ofsaid blade to said two positions, and a spring normally holding theblade with its said blade arm in said substantially vertical position.

27. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim 2, the pusher member havingmounted at a lateral side thereof an auxiliary arm engageable with thesaid yarn carried forwardly by the pusher member during its said forwardmovement, said auxiliary arm being engageable with the adjacent one ofsaid two yarn clamp elements during said forward movement of the pushermember, whereby the said yarn will be frictionally held by said armagainst said element.

28. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a. non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim 27, said auxiliary armbeing pivotally mounted on the pusher member and yieldably urgedforwardly.

29. In a knitting machine of the type containing a striping yarn feedingunit for moving selected yarns between a non-knitting and a knittingposition, the combination according to claim 2, the pusher member havingmounted at a lateral side thereof an auxiliary arm having a pivotallymounted terminal engageable with the said yarn carried'forwardly by thepusher member during its said-forward movement, said terminal beingengageable with the adjacent one of said two yarn clamp elements duringsaid forward movement of the pusher member,

pusher member during its said forward movement, said. auxiliary arm.being: engageable with the adjacent one of said two yarn clamp elementsduring said forward movement of the pusher member, whereby the said yarnwill be frictionally held by said arm against, said element, the saidengaged yarn clamp element having a recessed portion with which saidauxiliary arm is engageable.

SAMUEL MlSI-ICON.

HARRY AGULNEK.

LESTER MISHCON.

REFERENCES; CITED The following'references area of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,866,108 Holmes et a1 July 5,1932 1,917,763 Holmes July 11, 1933 1,951,842 Robinson Mar. 20, 19342,161,324 Thomas June 6, 1939 2,189,276 Agulnek et a1. Feb. 6, 1940FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 102,351 Australia Oct. 27, 1937

